The idea of non-automatic fire is actually interesting, it just needs to have benefits.
For extra damage when not spamming shots with full rate of fire, for example.
If i can fire full auto two shots per second for 2 damage per hit, if i intentionally only fire once per second, each shot will deal 4,5 damage per hit.
Full automatic fire against enemies with low health and non-automatic fire against enemies with high health.
Or non-automatic fire having higher chances for effects from items like the bombpods to work, or applying stronger versions of poison to enemies.